Page 4 - Installation and Conclusion
Building in the be quiet! Light Base 900 DX was a breeze. I began by installing the I/O shield at the back of the case, followed by the motherboard, processor, heatsink, and memory. A 190mm tall CPU cooler can be installed, but with my modest setup, there was a lot of clearance. Typically, connecting the front panel audio and I/O cables can be challenging, but the large cable cutouts below the motherboard made threading and plugging them in effortless. I also connected the USB 3.0 header through a side cutout with ease. Although I do not have a graphics card in this build, up to a 495mm long card can be installed. This is enough space for even the most powerful components.
In the rear chamber, I slid the power supply into its bracket and secured it using a cross-pattern to evenly distribute the mounting force on the foam pads. Feeding the ATX and CPU power cables through the side and top cutouts required less bending compared to most cases, which made the process smoother. For the 24-pin power connector, I debated between going straight out through the cutout near the side fan mount or the one by the motherboard. Perhaps with an E-ATX board, there would only be one option, but here I ended up with the ninety degree cutout right beside my motherboard to reduce cable length in the front. To power the RGB LEDs on the exterior, I connected the SATA power cable through the fan hub and routed it neatly along the center post. I left them unplugged for this build, since my motherboard does not support ARGB headers.
I installed the SSD by attaching four mounting pegs to the drive and inserting them into the rubber grommets on the central panel. I moved on to making my cable routing look clean by unplugging some of the front I/O cables and rerouting them. I felt that some of the front I/O cables could be tucked a bit more neatly into the 2cm channel behind the side fan mount. Between the side panel and the back of the motherboard, there was about 10cm of clearance to bundle the rest of my cables. This is ample room to fit more cables in the case of a fully populated build. I powered the SSD using the same SATA power cable along the central post, since the SATA power was needed for the two fan hubs. After I finished tidying up my cables, I swung the panel shut, effectively hiding most of the visible cable clutter and resulting in a clean look. Finally, I reinstalled all the side panels to complete the build. I did not have to use any force to keep the side panel closed, as the cable management space is quite deep. Overall, it was very easy to build in the be quiet! Light Base 900 DX. The cable routing holes were well thought out with many options to choose from. The spacious front and rear chambers made it easy to install components and run the corresponding cables.
After flicking on the power switch of my power supply and hitting the power button on the case, I was able to enjoy the view. All four RGB LED light strips lit up magnificently, creating a really nice ambience. They shone brightly, and it is the first case I have seen with such an immense wraparound light feature. I cycled through the various lighting options before settling on the signature solid orange of be quiet!. With the front and side tempered glass showcasing the internals and accompanying three sided light strips, I reckon it was designed to be laid horizontally as a showpiece. The only fan spinning was the internal CPU cooler fan, as this case included no fans. In my configuration, it was barely audible in the case. I would have liked to test the FX version of the case with four included fans to get a better picture of what it might sound like. According to our standard APH Networks sound scale, where 0 is silence and 10 is loud, the Light Base 900 DX gets a default 0.0/10. This is because there were no fans included, and the score does not necessarily reflect how quiet the case can be.
-----------------------------------------
The Light Base 900 DX is a solid entry as the first full-tower fish tank case from be quiet!. The striking four wraparound light strips make a bold and beautiful statement. Featuring tempered glass on the front and side panels, along with an innovative horizontal orientation, the case elegantly showcases the internal components of a build. The removable case feet are easy to use, and can be easily moved from the classic vertical orientation to side or upside-down positions, depending on the user’s space requirements. Internally, the case supports up to an E-ATX motherboard, and offers back-connector compatibility. For additional changes, a graphics card can be mounted vertically using separately purchased hardware. An integrated support arm prevents GPU sag and protects the PCIe socket. The spacious and open interior makes building inside this case enjoyable. It can accommodate many 140mm fans or even two 420mm radiators. At the rear, there is ample space for cable management, long power supplies, and a sufficient number of storage options. Two fan hubs are included, offering PWM fan and ARGB LED lighting control, with capacity for more than enough fans or lighting elements. Numerous cable management cutouts with rubber grommets simplify cable routing, enabling a clean and organized build. All intake panels feature mesh dust filters, helping to keep the interior clean and dust-free. On the downside, the case feet are a potential concern. There may be durability issues over time, since they are removable and made of plastic. No fans are included either, which means you will need to acquire your own. As of this writing, the Light Base 900 DX is priced at $190 USD, positioning it in the higher-end range of PC cases. However, its solid build quality, thoughtful design, and striking aesthetics make it both a joy to build in and a centerpiece worthy of display.
be quiet! provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH Recommended Award | APH Networks Review Focus Summary:
8/10 means Definitely a very good product with drawbacks that are not likely going to matter to the end user.
-- Final APH Networks Numeric Rating is 8.0/10
Please note that the APH Networks Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other publications.
The be quiet! Light Base 900 computer chassis showcases design expertise, serving as both an exceptional case and an impressive showpiece.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
